LB-Miles Pace, LB-Oliver Vigille and OL-Shawn Brown
By: Charles Fishbein
Elite Scouting Services has been at practices with Miami Northwestern, Miami Central, Boyd Anderson and Saint Thomas. These are just some of the teams we have seen this spring. We will make a trip to Jacksonville next weekend and focus on some of the teams in Northeast Florida. The first of those teams we will look at today is Miami Central.
When last season ended Coach Lockette and his team was already at work trying to make sure that the 2009 campaign was more successful. Coach Lockette took over the Rockets last year and inherited a very talented football team. While the talent was there it takes more then that to win a state championship. Coach Lockette would know because he has won one before at Miami Northwestern. This year you can see a more focused team. There is a sense of urgency that has not been there before at Miami Central. The Rockets are loaded and everyone that has watched them practice knows this. When you look at this team and that’s what they are this year a TEAM, they understand that this is a great chance to win their schools first ever championship at football.
Where it all starts and ends at pretty much every level of football whether high school, college or even the NFL is at the quarterback position. After watching Jeff Godfrey the past two seasons and now in spring ball entering his senior year, he has solidified himself as the top signal caller in Florida. The consensus is that Godfrey would be a top 5 quarterback nationally if not for his size. Godfrey is close to 6′0 tall. That should not be a concern because he more then makes up for it with his leadership skills, his understanding of the game and most importantly his howitzer for an arm. He can pretty much make every throw you can ask a qb to make. He also is a tremendous athlete. Make no mistake though; Godfrey is a quarterback that can run. He is not an athlete that just happens to play quarterback.
Behind Godfrey are not one but two very good running backs. Everyone knows about Brandon Gainer. We had the chance to watch him scrimmage the other day. We stood behind the offense to watch what Gainer was doing. He pretty much picked the right hole to run through every time. Not only that he showed the power to run over or through the defense. If Gainer was not enough, Central landed a transfer from nearby Miami Edison High, Devonte Freeman. He is not as big as Gainer but the 5′9, 185 pound back brings a little more speed to the table.
At receiver there is not a better set in South Florida this season then the one that Central will put on the field. Led by Senior Joshua Reese the talented prospect shows great toughness on the crossing routes and the speed and quickness to get open and make a defense respect where he is at all times. For the class of 2011, Central will be led by Charles Gaines. He brings a little more speed and quickness to the Rockets offense on the outside. He will be one of the more heavily recruited prospects in South Florida for the class of 2011. Not to be forgotten is 2010 wide receiver Derrick Knowles. He showed his big play capability in Central scrimmage the other day as well.
Up front on the offensive line Central has two impressive looking linemen. Led by Shawn Brown (Class of 2010) and Marquis Lewis (class of 2011), these two will anchor the line and will be a big reason why Miami Central will have one of the best offenses in Florida next season.
On the defensive side of the football Central is LOADED at linebacker. For those that don’t know his name they will after this upcoming season Miles Pace. The talented 2011 linebacker has been the talk of the spring. He will be offered by plenty of colleges next spring. If that is not good enough for you look for Derrick Dansby. He led the Rockets in tackles last year and will be entering his senior season. Oliver Vigille is another 2011 prospect that will get major looks. Marcus Fairley also is part of the mix after moving over from Hialeah.
Final Thoughts: We don’t want to put too much pressure on the coaches at Miami Central but they have one of those teams that a Head Coach at the high school level doesn’t get too often. Central is behind only Saint Thomas Aquinas in the talent department this year. They are loaded on both sides of the football. With a focus on the goal for a state championship it would not surprise us to see Miami Central raise their first state championship banner this coming January.
Hi Fish-
I am a Shadow site guy from way back. I appreciate your service and efforts, but you could benefit from some writing and editing.
I am not brokering services, but this is what I mean (your post on the top, quick revisions on the bottom):
Good luck,
Brad
The past few weeks we featured teams from around South. Today we look at the Northwestern Bulls. The Bulls won consecutive state titles, went for a third one last year, but came up one win short. This year the Bulls are refocused and look to make another run. They will have their work cut out as cross-town rival Miami Central is loaded for bear. Will the Bulls dominate the playoffs or will the Rockets finally get it done? That is why they play the games, but our focus is the players that shape the outcomes.
We break down the Bulls and their stars of 2010, 2011 and 2012.
First up is Teddy Bridgewater. The talented 2011 signal caller is quickly becoming one of the top players in his class. Most feel that Bridgewater could end up the #1 player in his class. His physical tools could make him one of the best quarterbacks ever out of Dade County. He has some of the traits that made Vince Young special in high school. However Bridgewater may be a better passer than the former Texas Longhorn. Bridgewater’s calmness on the field is what is truly impressive. He plays every down like it’s his last. He can break a defense down when nothing is open. Look for him to take his game to another level this season.
Bridgewater’s top target is Michael Lee Harris. The talented receiver is one of the best in Florida. Bridgewater to Harris is something you will hear a lot of this year when the Bulls play. Harris is a go-to receiver that makes all the tough catches. While Harris looked good in practice last week his teammate, Eli Rogers, stole the show. Rogers made catch after catch and made the Bulls defense look silly. Rogers is part of the 2011 class, but everyone will know his name by the end of this season. He is already one of the elite receivers in South Florida.
When the Bulls are not passing the football they will rely on running back Corvin Lamb. Lamb sat and waited his turn and now gets his shot to be a star. However he must wait a little longer after injuring his foot this spring. He can’t play until Fall. He will be important to the Bulls’ offense, brining some balance to their attack.
Up front is where all games are won or lost. Offensive Tackle Torrian Wilson got the most publicity this spring. His teammates Donald Senet, Jonathan Jenkins, Corey Jackson, and Terrance Carey should be part of one of the better offensive lines in Florida.
Last season’s Bulls defensive line was not as good as prior seasons’. That should change in 2009. DT (Miami Commit) Todd Chandler should dominate from his interior line position. The Bulls also have a future star in Eric Kinsey. The talented defensive end is part of the class of 2012. On the other side is Albert Doyle. MORE EXPLANATION He is only be a junior this upcoming season. The Bulls are very talented up front.
Also look out for is linebacker Jermaine Reve (2011), Israel Linder (2010), Ricky Joseph-DT-(2010), Khambrel McGee-DB-(2010) , Khalid Marshall-CB-(2010), Lyndan Edwards-LB-(2011) and Demetrius Allen-LB-(2011)
Final Thoughts: Northwestern is once again one of the top teams in South Florida. They have talent at pretty much every position on the field. THAT’S NOT WHAT THEY ANALYSIS SAID. SECONDARY? While this team may not be as talented as the prior two that won state titles, it is quickly closing the gap. Don’t be surprised to see the Bulls once again raise the championship trophy in Orlando this season.
REVISIONS:
Recently we featured teams from around South Florida. Today we look at the Northwestern Bulls. Northwestern won two straight titles, and went for a third last year, but came up one win short. This year’s Bulls are refocused and look to make another run at a state title. They have their work cut out as cross-town rival Miami Central is loaded for bear. Will the Bulls continue their dominance in the playoffs or will the Rockets finally get it done? No one knows, but we do know the importance of talent. So we break down the Bulls and their stars of 2010, 2011 and 2012.
First up is Teddy Bridgewater. The talented 2011 signal caller is quickly becoming one of the top players in his class. In fact many feel he could end up at number one . His physical tools could make him one of the best to ever play quarterback in Dade County. He also shares some of the traits that made Vince Young so special in high school, but Bridgewater may be a better passer then the Longhorn great. Bridgewater’s most impressive trait is his calmness on the football field. Nothing rattles him, but he plays every down like it’s his last. He can break a defense down when nothing is open. Look for him to take his game to another level this season.
Bridgewater’s top target this year is Michael Lee Harris. The talented receiver is one of Florida’s best. You will hear a lot of “Bridgewater to Harris” this year. Harris is a go-to receiver that makes all the tough catches. While Harris looked good in practice last week, his teammate Eli Rogers stole the show. He made the Bulls defense look silly. By season’s end everyone will know his name. Rogers is part of the 2011 class.
When the Bulls are not passing the football they rely on new running back Corvin Lamb. Lamb waited his turn, but must wait a little longer after injuring his foot this spring. He cannot play until fall but is important to the Bulls offense as he brings some balance to their attack.
Games are won and lost up front. Offensive Tackle Torrian Wilson got the most publicity this spring but his teammates Donald Senet, Jonathan Jenkins, Corey Jackson and Terrance Carey should be part of one of the better offensive lines in Florida. This is a pretty good group to have.
Last season the Bulls defensive line was not as good as prior units. That should change in 2009. DT (and Miami Commit) Todd Chandler dominates the interior line. The Bulls also have a future star in DE Eric Kinsey. This talented athlete is part of the class of 2012. On the other side is junior Albert Doyle MORE EXPLANATION. The Bulls are very talented up front.
Also pay attention to linebacker Jermaine Reve (2011), Israel Linder (2010), Ricky Joseph-DT-(2010), Khambrel McGee-DB-(2010) , Khalid Marshall-CB-(2010), Lyndan Edwards-LB-(2011) and Demetrius Allen-LB-(2011).
Final Thoughts: Northwestern is one of the top teams in South Florida. They have talent at pretty much every position SECONDARY NOT DISCUSSED?. While this team is not as talented on paper as recent Bulls state champions, it is quickly closing the gap. Don’t be surprised to see the Bulls, once again, raise the championship trophy in Orlando.
I appreciate you pointing that out. Right now I am real busy and just put stories up. I put it through spell check. I dont have the time to sit there and edit them. Sometimes I send them to Larry Blustein but he is also very busy. I am strapped for time and just want to get the prospects some looks. Thanks for pointing that out. I will try and do a better job of looking over the stories.